I have to respectfully witness that it is not always the case. I have been bike commuting for 17 mo now and am the same weight as when I started. My commute is much shorter (about 5.5 mi each way), flatter (300ft ascent in the morning, negligible ascent on the way home), and I am lazy so I don't work that hard, it's really like taking a walk. So weight loss depends on how much effort you put into your riding.

Yes, cycle comuting doesn't always result in weight loss. But it doesn't hurt. It's even possible to gain weight while riding an hour a day.

OTOH- cycling even that little, or at low effort levels, generally replace some body fat with muscle, so even at the same weight, you're still healthier.

Weight is a poor indicator of condition, and over emphasized because there's not an easier index, but I'll venture that a 250# football player is likely fitter than most people with very favorable BMIs. Proponents of the BMI even had to come up with a category -- the fit fat -- to get around the statistical issues with the system.

IMO, those Clydesdales who take up biking should focus less on the scale, and more on their belt size. This will usually show more progress and be less discouraging than the scale.

Good points, and it must be a fact that if I had been driving instead of riding all this time, I would undoubtedly weigh even more!

I will be losing weight over the next few months though, as my work is paying for registration in the Devil Dog Duathlon, so I'm going to have to do some running training, and also up my cycling fitness with intervals and generally commuting harder.

What stand are you using?

The stand is a feedback. It is an Alfine 11 speed in response to an earlier question. Really enjoying the bike for trips around town and to the train station so far.

The rear of the front fender is way too high off the ground.....

How wide is the fender vs the tire?

- Andy

For me:
Fitness is earned on the bike.
Weight control is earned at the dinner table.

Enjoy your ride!

Longtime lurker, infrequent poster, but I thought I'd share my trusty steed (good ol' Japanese steel from 1975). Added this to the stable two years ago and have added about 3,200 commuting miles to its unknown total lifetime of miles.

No braze ons, so everything attached is a bit jerry-rigged, including the rear rack (nothing has fallen off, yet ).

New commuter here... with a new commuter here:

2014 Focus Planet 2.0. Hydro discs, 8 speed Alfine hub with Gates belt drive. I really like it. It came with 32c Conti Sport Contacts on it but I swapped them out for Marathon Plus 38'ers. Don't want to be dealing with punctures. And picked up the Thule pannier for it. An impressive bit of kit.

Just wish Focus hadn't added the graphics to the frame this year. Would prefer it stealthier.

Nice bike!

Hi there,

After a few weeks, here it is


--

I sold my Breezer last fall. I didn't want to but I can't keep every bike and it was ready to roll so I found a buyer. Very smooth a great bike and I miss it a little, but the 3-speed wasn't enough gears for an everyday commuter with a bridge I had to go up and over.

This is true, but the Nexus 8 we had was a little overkill for puttering around campus.

Nice looking machine! It's one of those bikes I would probably never ride because I'd be sitting staring at it all the time lol. These city bikes are real lookers these days.

One thing, though - Switching from the SportCONTACTS to the Marathons was more of a side-grade (if there's such a word) than an upgrade because they are both exceptionally puncture resistant. I've ridden on a pair of sportCONTACT tires and haven't punctured since 2008 (6 years, prolly 12,000 miles). Continental and Schwalbe really have it going on as far as puncture resistance. I'm not bad-mouthing the Marathons, but you already had good slicks my friend . . .

BTW welcome to the groupo!

i cant stop looking at all the bikes... must sleep.

You're commuting on a BMX bike?

Yes.

doesn't seem ergonomically feasible to me, unless the commute is just a mile or two, but if it works for you, more power to ya!

DSC_0061 by Makadam 360
Here is mine, Specialized Rockhopper 94 Sport.
No need for fenders right now, maybe when summer will be over.

I know a guy that round trips 12miles on a BMX, granted he modified a lot especially the gearing and it helps that he's only 5'5"

BMX bikes contend with junky MTB's around here for "most common transport bike". Neither ever have functional brakes 9/10 times though...

M.

Che, looks pretty nice (love the bullhorns), but has that fork suffered an impact? It could be an illusion of the photography, but to my eye it looks like it bends back before sweeping forward.

Yes it had, I don't know when or how, it must be the previous owner of the bike.
I have the bike for a year and half, rode it almost 10.000 km and haven't got any problem with the fork, but I'm sure I will change it soon.